Official sources checked on October 26, 2026.
The Energy Affordability Program Ontario (EAP) is a Save on Energy program, run by the IESO, that installs energy upgrades for free in income-eligible homes: a household of four qualifies for the full in-home offer with a before-tax income of up to $96,439, or automatically if it received OESP, LEAP, Ontario Works, ODSP or the GIS in the past 12 months. Electrically heated homes and owners of oil-heated homes can also get a cold climate air source heat pump installed at no cost, while households with higher incomes may still qualify for a free energy saving kit by mail.
Not eligible for a free heat pump? Estimate the Home Renovation Savings rebate with our heat pump rebate calculator and the project budget with our heat pump cost calculator (currently based on Québec prices).
In this guide
Energy Affordability Program at a glance
| Question | Short answer (official pages, October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Who runs it | Save on Energy, the conservation brand of the IESO (Independent Electricity System Operator) |
| Cost to you | $0: “All expert advice and energy-saving home upgrades under this program are completely free of charge” |
| Two levels of help | Comprehensive Support (in-home assessment and installed upgrades) and Energy Saving Kits (mailed, self-installed) |
| Income limit, Comprehensive Support | From $48,220 (1 person) to $127,576 (7+ people), before tax |
| Income limit, kits | From $71,437 (1 person) to $174,983 (6+ people) |
| Other ways to qualify | Social housing residents, on-reserve community members, or anyone who received a listed benefit (OESP, LEAP, ODSP, Ontario Works, GIS and others) in the past 12 months |
| Free heat pump | Cold climate air source heat pump for income-eligible homes heated by electricity, or by oil (homeowners with an above-ground tank) |
| Owners and renters | Both can apply if listed on the electricity account; landlord-owned items are offered to the landlord |
| Not eligible | Cornwall Electric customers (not on the IESO-controlled grid) |
| How to apply | Online form on saveonenergy.ca or 1-844-770-3148; a service provider calls back within three business days |
Every line in this table comes from the official Energy Affordability Program page and its program FAQ. Neither page shows an update date, and the income limits are adjusted from time to time, so check the current figures before you apply.
What the Energy Affordability Program offers
The program has two tracks, and the one you get depends on your income and on how your home is heated. Comprehensive Support is the main offer: a program expert visits your home, checks your existing equipment and recommends upgrades that are then installed for free. Energy Saving Kits are a lighter offer for a wider income range: a box of small products mailed to you that you install yourself.
Comprehensive Support: upgrades installed in your home
Save on Energy says that, depending on eligibility and the equipment already in your home, you may receive:
- LED light bulbs and a smart power strip
- An energy-efficient refrigerator or freezer, a dehumidifier or a window air conditioner (to replace older units)
- A drying rack for clothes
- High-efficiency showerheads and faucet aerators, for homes with electric hot water heating
- Additional attic or basement insulation, draft proofing and programmable or smart thermostats, for homes heated by electricity or oil. For the separate Home Renovation Savings offer, see our Ontario smart thermostat rebate guide.
- A cold climate air source heat pump, for homes heated by electricity or oil
The FAQ adds that in electrically heated homes, the delivery partner also checks whether the attic, walls and/or basement would benefit from more insulation and comprehensive draft proofing. You are not obliged to take everything: the FAQ states that you may accept or decline any upgrade offered to you.
Energy Saving Kits: free products by mail
According to the official page, each kit may include LED light bulbs, weather-stripping, a high-efficiency handheld showerhead, faucet aerators, a retractable clothesline, an LED night light and a block heater timer. Kits arrive by mail within three to six weeks, with no fees or shipping costs.
A kit will not change your heating bill much on its own, but weather-stripping and a block heater timer are useful in an Ontario winter, and the kit costs nothing. If your income is above the Comprehensive Support limits, it is the part of the program still open to you.
Energy Affordability Program Ontario income limits and eligibility
Eligibility comes down to three questions: are you on the electricity account, do you meet one of the income or benefit routes, and is your home on the IESO-controlled grid? For Comprehensive Support, Save on Energy lists three ways in:
- You live in an eligible social housing property; or
- You own, rent or lease your home, you are the primary or secondary utility account holder, and you meet one of two criteria: your before-tax household income is under the limit below, or someone in the household received a listed benefit in the past 12 months; or
- You are an on-reserve community member.
Comprehensive Support income limits (before tax)
| People in the home | Maximum before-tax household income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $48,220 |
| 2 | $68,193 |
| 3 | $83,518 |
| 4 | $96,439 |
| 5 | $107,823 |
| 6 | $118,113 |
| 7 or more | $127,576 |
Energy Saving Kit income limits
The kit uses a separate, higher table based on your annual household income for the previous year. Do not mix the two tables up: being under the kit limit does not make you eligible for installed upgrades.
| People in the home | Maximum household income (previous year) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $71,437 |
| 2 | $101,027 |
| 3 | $123,731 |
| 4 | $142,873 |
| 5 | $159,737 |
| 6 or more | $174,983 |
Benefits that qualify you without an income test
If anyone in your household received one of these in the past 12 months, you meet the Comprehensive Support criteria through that route instead of the income table:
- Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)
- Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
- Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
- Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance for Seniors or Allowance for the Survivor
- Healthy Smiles Ontario Child Dental Program
- Enbridge Gas Home Winterproofing Program
Who is not eligible
- Customers of Cornwall Electric: the FAQ says they are not connected to the IESO-controlled grid.
- People who are not on the electricity account (for example, a roommate whose name is not on the bill). The FAQ describes eligible applicants as people responsible for paying the electricity bill as a homeowner or a renter.
- For the heat pump: oil-heated homes with an underground tank, renters in oil-heated homes, and homes heated by natural gas or propane (the official pages only list electric and oil heating).
The free heat pump: who qualifies and what is included
The headline offer is a free cold climate air source heat pump for income-eligible households with electric or oil heating, as stated on the Save on Energy heat pump page. The rules differ by fuel:
| Current heating | Who can apply for the heat pump | Notes from the FAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Electric (baseboards, electric furnace) | Homeowners and renters | Renters apply as account holders; landlord-owned equipment is offered to the landlord |
| Oil | Homeowners only, with an above-ground oil tank | Offered “for a limited time”; the tank is removed as part of the job |
| Natural gas or propane | Not listed | Gas customers may look at the Enbridge Gas Home Winterproofing Program, which the EAP page mentions |
The FAQ lists what comes with the installation:
- A cold climate air source heat pump, ducted or ductless (the program offers this type only, not geothermal)
- The required back-up heating, already built into the solution
- A 10-year parts and labour warranty
- Follow-up visits at the one-year and two-year marks, with a system check, filter cleaning and customer education
- Removal of the above-ground oil tank, or of the existing heating equipment that is no longer needed
The FAQ also says heat pumps are installed in single-family homes. If you live in an apartment or a unit with shared heating, other upgrades may still apply, but expect the heat pump part to depend on the assessment.
Oil-heated homes: the federal funding behind the offer
For oil-heated homes, the free heat pump is co-funded with the federal government. The Natural Resources Canada page for participating provinces (modified August 25, 2026) says eligible Ontario homeowners can get free direct installation of a heat pump system valued at up to $25,000 (up to $15,000 federal and up to $10,000 provincial), delivered with the IESO, and that no funds are paid to applicants except a $250 bonus cheque.
One point to watch: the federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program page (modified August 4, 2026) says July 31, 2026 was the last day to apply, and NRCan tells residents of partner provinces to check deadlines with their provincial program. The Save on Energy pages still list oil-heated homes and give no end date. If you heat with oil, call 1-844-770-3148 and ask whether oil applications are still being accepted before you plan around this offer.
Curious what the same equipment would cost you outside the program? Our guide to heat pump cost in Ontario breaks down installed prices by system type, and heat pump vs furnace compares running costs.
How to apply, step by step
The process is short on your side: the delivery partner does the assessment and arranges the work. Based on the official page and FAQ, it runs like this:
- Check your route. Find your household size in the income table, or confirm that someone received a listed benefit in the past 12 months.
- Apply. Fill in the online form on the Energy Affordability Program page or call 1-844-770-3148. A program service provider is supposed to contact you within three business days.
- Prove eligibility. The FAQ gives a Notice of Assessment or proof of receipt of a qualifying benefit as examples. For Comprehensive Support, the expert verifies your documents during the visit; the FAQ says documents are destroyed after verification.
- Home assessment. An energy expert visits, reviews your equipment and asks you to sign a Participant Agreement. A second visit may be needed.
- Results. You receive the list of approved upgrades by letter or email, and you can accept or decline each one.
- Installation. Approved upgrades are installed at no cost. For a heat pump, follow-up visits come at one and two years.
Save on Energy assigns one authorized delivery agent per region, based on the first letter of your postal code (K; L, M or P; N). The list is on the official page, which is the safest way to confirm that the person calling you really works for the program.
Worked examples: which offer would you get?
These three households are fictional, but each one is run against the official income tables and rules quoted above.
| Household | Situation | Result under the official rules |
|---|---|---|
| A: couple with two children, Sudbury | Owners of a bungalow heated with electric baseboards; before-tax income $92,000 | Under the $96,439 limit for 4 people: eligible for Comprehensive Support. Insulation, draft proofing, thermostats and a free cold climate heat pump can all be assessed, because the home is electrically heated. |
| B: two-person household, Toronto | Renters in an electrically heated apartment; income $75,000; no benefits received | Above $68,193 for 2 people, so no installed upgrades; under $101,027, so eligible for a free Energy Saving Kit. |
| C: retired homeowner, Eastern Ontario | Lives alone in an oil-heated house with an above-ground oil tank; receives the Guaranteed Income Supplement | Qualifies through the GIS route, whatever the income figure. Oil-heated homeowners with an above-ground tank are eligible for the heat pump; confirm by phone that oil applications are still open. |
Household C shows why the benefit route matters: it skips the income calculation entirely. Household B shows the opposite case, where a modest income still lands just above the in-home limit. In that situation, the Home Renovation Savings program (rebates, open to all incomes) is the next place to look, along with our guide to the heat pump rebate in Ontario.
Related Ontario bill help: OESP and LEAP
The EAP lowers your energy use. Two Ontario Energy Board programs lower the bill itself, and receiving either one also opens the door to EAP Comprehensive Support.
| Program | What you get | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) | A monthly credit on your electricity bill; the OEB example is $40 a month for 4 people with $65,000 income | Based on after-tax income and household size; higher credits of $52 to $113 for some households, including those using electric heating |
| Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) | Emergency help of up to $650 for electricity ($780 if the home is heated electrically) and $650 for natural gas | Only if you are behind on your bill; paid directly to the utility through an intake agency |
Details are on the OEB pages for OESP and LEAP. Note the difference in income definitions: OESP and LEAP use after-tax income, while the EAP Comprehensive Support table uses before-tax income. Check each table on its own terms.
Common mistakes and scams to avoid
- Using the wrong table. The kit table is much higher than the Comprehensive Support table. Only the lower table leads to installed upgrades.
- Assuming a renter cannot apply. Renters on the electricity account can apply; upgrades to landlord-owned items or insulation are offered to the landlord, and the FAQ says your financial information is not shared with them.
- Paying anyone. The program is free. Anyone asking for a deposit, a fee or financing for an EAP upgrade is not part of it.
- Opening the door to unannounced visitors. Save on Energy says its authorized delivery agents will never show up unannounced and do not do door-to-door sales.
- Clicking ads. The Save on Energy scam awareness page advises typing saveonenergy.ca directly into your browser and reporting suspicious contacts to saveonenergy@ieso.ca.
- Planning an oil conversion around an expired deadline. Confirm by phone that oil applications are still accepted before removing or replacing anything.
Checklist before you apply
- Your name (or your partner’s) is on the electricity account
- Your utility is on the IESO-controlled grid (not Cornwall Electric)
- You have last year’s Notice of Assessment, or a letter or statement showing a qualifying benefit
- You know your main heating fuel and, for oil, where your tank is
- If you rent, you have your landlord’s contact details ready
Frequently asked questions
What is the Energy Affordability Program in Ontario?
It is a Save on Energy program run by the IESO that provides free energy-saving upgrades to income-eligible households: in-home assessments and installed upgrades (Comprehensive Support), or mailed Energy Saving Kits.
What are the Energy Affordability Program income limits?
For Comprehensive Support, before-tax household income must not exceed $48,220 for 1 person, $68,193 for 2, $83,518 for 3, $96,439 for 4, $107,823 for 5, $118,113 for 6 and $127,576 for 7 or more. Kits have higher limits, up to $174,983.
Is the heat pump really free?
Yes. The Save on Energy FAQ states that eligible participants can receive a cold climate air source heat pump and installation at no cost, with a 10-year parts and labour warranty.
Can renters apply to the Energy Affordability Program?
Yes, if they are listed on the electricity account. For the heat pump, renters can apply in electrically heated homes, but only homeowners can apply in oil-heated homes.
Does the program cover homes heated with natural gas?
The heat pump, insulation and draft proofing are listed for homes heated by electricity or oil. Enbridge Gas customers are pointed to the Enbridge Gas Home Winterproofing Program.
Do I qualify if I receive OESP?
Yes. Receiving the Ontario Electricity Support Program in the past 12 months is one of the listed routes to Comprehensive Support, along with LEAP, Ontario Works, ODSP and the GIS.
How long does it take to hear back?
The official page says a program service provider contacts you within three business days of the form. Energy Saving Kits arrive within three to six weeks.
Is the program still open in 2026?
Yes. The official pages, checked on October 26, 2026, show no end date. For oil-heated homes, confirm by phone, because the federal oil-to-heat-pump stream stopped taking applications on July 31, 2026.
The bottom line
If your before-tax household income is under the Save on Energy table for your household size, or if someone in your home received OESP, LEAP, Ontario Works, ODSP or the GIS in the past year, the Energy Affordability Program is the first program to try: everything is installed for free, including a cold climate heat pump in electrically heated homes. Above those limits, request the free kit and look at rebate programs instead. Apply only through saveonenergy.ca or 1-844-770-3148, and never pay anyone for an EAP upgrade.
Sources
- Save on Energy, Energy Affordability Program (no update date shown; read October 26, 2026)
- Save on Energy, Energy Affordability Program FAQs (read October 26, 2026)
- Save on Energy, Energy Affordability Program air source heat pumps (read October 26, 2026)
- Save on Energy, Scam awareness (read October 26, 2026)
- Natural Resources Canada, Applicants in participating provinces and territories (modified August 25, 2026)
- Natural Resources Canada, Eligibility criteria for the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program (modified August 4, 2026)
- Ontario Energy Board, Ontario Electricity Support Program (read October 26, 2026)
- Ontario Energy Board, Low-income Energy Assistance Program (read October 26, 2026)
